magyar viz Posted March 24, 2014 Report Share Posted March 24, 2014 Ah Nobby no mates !! I stand corrected . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo33 Posted March 24, 2014 Report Share Posted March 24, 2014 I have spoken to three farmers over the last two weeks, and they have said they can't remember seeing so few pigeon about and have never experienced zero pigeon damage on their rape. Certainly the Columba palumbus is a very rare bird here in the south Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted March 24, 2014 Report Share Posted March 24, 2014 Hi Guys......Went though border control into sunny Suffolk to have a look on some rape fields today, had a walk across the one where I saw some drop in and about 200 got off the field and out of the trees, looking at the field and the droppings under the trees I would imagine they had been there for some time. Went back to my car for a drink and to see if any came back and from where they were coming from. After about 10 minutes ones and twos started to drift back to the rape and I could see where the best place was to set up, the only problem was the wind which was fairly strong would have been blowing in my face which if I can avoid I will do as I am not keen in pigeons coming to the decoys from behind you , half the fun is watching the birds from a distance turning in to your set up. The field on the other side of the hedge was winter barley which was only 5 or 6 inches high so I thought I will set up on there as there were two oak trees about 50 yards apart which I could get in between the two and also have the wind on my back I put out my magnet 25yds in front with two dead pigeons on , a floater about 50yds out and 5 dead pigeons each side of the magnet but about 10yds further out. The time now was 1....30pm and within a couple of minutes the first one came in nice and by the time he had made his mind up he was in the bag, this carried on off and on all afternoon never a huge amount but 1 and 2s every 10 minutes or so , some coming to the magnet and others making for the oak trees giving you nice crossing shots. saw several between 4 and 5pm coming of the bean fields and even with full crops 1 or 2 came in to there downfall. All in all a nice afternoon had a good bit of sport and picked up 47 and all cleared up by a little after 6 o clock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted March 24, 2014 Report Share Posted March 24, 2014 I have spoken to three farmers over the last two weeks, and they have said they can't remember seeing so few pigeon about and have never experienced zero pigeon damage on their rape. Certainly the Columba palumbus is a very rare bird here in the south Recent information released by the BTO of 2013 nesting survey results show that fledging success for woodpigeon was down nearly 20% in 2013 . Given that the estimated breeding population is 5-6 million pairs, assuming 75% of them breed and of that 75% raise 2 broods that could equate to 1.4 - 1.75 million less birds in 2014. Its easy to see how a couple of seasons of poor reproduction can decimate a birds population, particularly a bird like the wood pigeon. Include in this 2 seasons of deaths due to freezing weather and one season of bad tricho in some areas, I would suggest that pigeon numbers nationally have definitely reduced substantially in the last 2 seasons. Will be interesting to see the results of the 2013 BBS for population sightings specifically. I think the common sightings of the 80's and 90's of 1000+ pigeons hitting the crops are a thing of the past though in many areas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted March 25, 2014 Report Share Posted March 25, 2014 Well I went out today full of optimism..... I didn't see NOBBY, bobby a scout or a search party. Might get the golf clubs out the attick.... Golf can be just as frustrating..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted March 25, 2014 Report Share Posted March 25, 2014 Numbers are dramatically down in my area, I had a go over newly drilled peas on Sunday, there was a bit of spillage for the birds to mop up, but there were still so few birds around, packed up at 1.30, only 34 in the bag, OK, had I have stayed longer I probably would have had a good few more. I remember shooting the nearby field back in '04 when it too was drilled with peas, I had 186 in the bag by 2pm, my mate on a nearby field of beans had 212, bags of that size nowadays are simply not possible. Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobby dazzler Posted March 25, 2014 Report Share Posted March 25, 2014 I would say I have had my best shooting in winter/spring of this year there is a farm I shoot over in wiltshire it's approximately 4.500 acres it has a big pheasant syndicate on it and they have a mass of cover crop for the last 5 weeks or so we have been getting regular bags of a hundred plus and there is a serious amount still around and the farmer is going to leave cover crops in for a while longer as it keeps them of rape Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted March 25, 2014 Report Share Posted March 25, 2014 You don't need any cover to shoot pigeons. I've finally cracked it - you are shooting homing pigeons or the farmers doves!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fenny Posted March 25, 2014 Report Share Posted March 25, 2014 Hi had first good day out of the year on bean drillings had 27 woodies 3 ferals and 11 crows first decent bag in a while cheers fenny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy verance Posted April 1, 2014 Report Share Posted April 1, 2014 I had given up on the rape this year but noticed pigeons were dropping in on the tramlines late in the afternoon so had a couple of hours today, just used 2 floaters and hid in the hedge, picked up 24 and missed more than I want to admit! but I am going to blame my new Hatsan Escort, struggling a bit with the long barrel, well that's my excuse! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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